Heather Bullard

Giveaway Time!

I think it's about time for another giveaway and Wendy of The Shabby Nest has graciously provided one of her gorgeous Ticking Rosette Pillows for a prize! Don't you just love ticking? I think the trio of rosettes add just the right touch. She makes lots of other beautiful things like these, and these, and these little numbered beauties. So much talent in one little lady! If you would like to be entered into the giveaway just leave a comment answering this:

What is your favorite Halloween candy?

Winner will be announced Monday! Good luck and thanks for playing!

UPDATE: Congratulations to the winner..Gwyn Rosser of The Pink Tractor! Your prizes are in the mail. Thanks so much for all the new friends and kind comments on Wendy's pillow. You guys are the best!

Gettin' Crafty & Fall Finds

Just to warn you...this will start off as a fun post, something you will really like. Then somewhere in the middle you will be mad at me. So, if you'd like to click away now, I won't get my feelings hurt. Continuing on for those who are willing to forgive me. Aren't those pumpkins the coolest ever? I made them with the most scrumptious velvet I've ever seen. Hand dyed beauties with crinkles and sheen. Gorgeous preserved squash stems and velvet leaves to accent them. Beauuuuutiful Autumnal Perfection!

 

I can't take all the credit though, they came from a kit. The talented Kim at Olive Juice came up with the idea and I couldn't wait to buy one. They're called Posh Squash. Now...here's the part I warned you about. They're completely SOLD OUT! I know. I'm sorry. It's taken me a while to finish them to share with you and now look what I've done. Shown you something that isn't available anymore. But I'm hoping some of you crafty divas will still be inspired to make your own. I know you're out there. You're the ones who always think..."I can make that". So now you'll have to do just that. And hopefully next year Kim's fingers won't be worn to the bone and she'll be able to create hundreds upon hundreds of kits for those who like me, need direction and a fool proof plan. ; )

So to end things on a better note...did you notice my table? My new rustic farmhouse table? The one with the perfectly aged wood and spindle legs? Last week my buddies Pam, Amy, Jenny and I were at the Long Beach flea market going over details of our upcoming event. We were standing next to this table while we were talking and when I finally looked down to notice....I had to have it! So Amy, being the great junker that she is, went over to the dealer and got the price down for me. Thanks Amy! Now it sits on my patio waiting for dinners, parties, luncheons and photoshoots. Here's a silly video we shot that morning after I bought the table.  

In the video I tried to show you the completely awesome handmade journal Pam brought to take notes. If only I could craft like that woman. I jotted my notes down on my phone...not quite as glamorous as the way she does things. I'm sure those of you coming to our Brocante Carnival will now be relieved at seeing how serious we all are. Flea markets bring out the best in friends!

Casino Butter

I thought I'd share one of my favorite compound butter recipes with you. It's called Casino Butter and was originally a recipe I tore from a magazine probably a decade ago. I've since then modified it to make it my own. It's very easy to make, freezes well and goes with practically everthing. 

The ingredients are fresh and simple. Parsley, green onions, garlic, red bell pepper, hot sauce, white wine, lemon juice, salt & pepper and of course, butter. (Recipe at the end of the post)

Chop up all the veggies into a small dice. Don't worry if they're perfect because next they'll be going into the food processor along with the softened butter, white wine, hot sauce, s & p and lemon juice.

I do mine in two batches because I only have a mini food processor. But if you have the grown up version, by all means use it and save yourself some time.

I add them to a mixing bowl and blend them together with a spatula to make sure there is consistency with both batches. Next, I spoon half of the mixture onto waxed paper and form it into a log.

Twist together both ends and slip it into a plastic freezer bag. When you're ready to use it just slice off what you need and put the rest back into the freezer. It will keep for several months.

For the remaining fresh batch, I spread it on open faced french bread, topped it with grated parmesan cheese and broiled it until golden. This butter is also really delicious on any grilled meat, hot pasta or grilled vegetables. And as a side note, I've made it with and without the white wine and it's equally yummy and on occasion have used a small jalepeno pepper too. It's pretty fool proof and will make you look like a gourmet in the kitchen! Bon Appetite!

Casino Butter

1 pound softened butter
3 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1-2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 cloves of garlic
4 green onions (use 2 if they're large)
1/3 cup red bell pepper
1/3 cup fresh Italian parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Chop vegetables into small dice add all ingredients to food processor and blend. Occasionally stop processing to scrape down sides. Cover and refrigerate or freeze remaining butter. Spread on french bread then bake or grill or use on grilled meat, vegetables or pasta.

Autumn Decorating

I've been a busy homemaker lately dusting, vacuuming, cleaning windows, patio furniture, bathrooms & bedrooms, cleaning out cupboards, rearranging furniture, baking cookies, grilling steaks for dinner and pulling out some of my autumn decorations.

I decided not to go "All Out" this year and kept things on the simple side. Mostly using fresh pumpkins and gourds mixed in with a few of my favorite holiday decorations.

 

I picked the remaining blooms on my hydrangeas, which had turned a beautiful rusty green combination, perfect for fall. And I was able to fill this giant silver punch bowl for my dining room. I hope they dry nicely.

My only Halloween decoration (I'm sure there are a few gasps here) is this foil pumpkin character which has such an adorable face. Isn't he cute?

All that was needed for the kitchen and breakfast table were a few bowls of gourds and a glittery pumpkin atop my favorite grey scale. I have to say that keeping things easy made the decorating more enjoyable. Now maybe I can get rid of some of the stuff I've been accumulating for years. I mean who needs 3 giant boxes of autumn decorations anyway? I think I should let nature speak for itself. Who can improve on that? Wishing you all a gorgeous autumn afternoon!

Brocante Carnival

  

What is it about a secondhand market, also known in French as "brocante," that stirs our souls? It is where we search for weathered chairs, vintage books, and antique linens. It is where we find objects that sing to us as we invite the power of potential to unleash our imaginations as we seek to elevate how we live, what we create.

If the hunt for flea market treasures is something you’d like to discover for the first time, or enjoy in the company of like-minded friends, it is our hope that you’ll join us for a special outing as outlined below:

Heather Bullard, Pam Garrison, Amy Hanna & Jenny Doh

Cordially invite you to

Brocante Carnival

Date: Sunday, November 8th 

Place: Pasadena Rose Bowl 

Start Time: 9:00 a.m.

A limited number of goody bags will be dispensed at 9:00 a.m. at the front entrance gates. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. After the goody bags, we will enjoy quick introductions, followed by a review of friendly flea marketing tips, and some fun surprises. And then, we will all enter the grounds to shop. You are free to roam the aisles alone, or with other guests, or alongside Heather, Pam, Amy, or Jenny.

Lunch Time: 12:00 p.m.

At noon, you are invited to join us at the green picnic tables with a lunch that you have packed for the day, or purchased at one of the food stands. During lunch, we will enjoy the best part of flea marketing, which is a "show & tell" of what you’ve found with others. After we have re-fueled, Heather, Pam, Amy, and Jenny will award very special handmade prizes to those with the best flea market "tote-ables" as follows:

    Best flea market apron

    Best flea market cart

    Best flea market totebag

Notes:

Brocante Carnival — in terms of the activities planned by Heather, Pam, Amy and Jenny — is a free event that will officially conclude with the best tote-able awards, but of course everyone will be welcome to continue shopping until the flea market closes at 3:00 p.m. Please note that in order to enter the flea market, regular admission of $8.00 per person will need to be paid at the gate. For details regarding admission, please visit the Rose Bowl Flea Market site here.

You are encouraged to visit my blog post containing some of my best flea marketing tips to help you prepare for the event here.

Throughout the day, photographs will be taken as we aim to cover the adventures of Brocante Carnival in a future issue of Somerset Life magazine.

Will we be seeing you there? Let us know. We are looking forward to meeting local flea market loving people from the blogosphere! xo

{Update: No need to RSVP, just show up if you feel so inclined that day}

Glorious Pumpkins

We are back from our weekend at the Remnants of the Past Show. The weather was spectacular, the customers were so fun & friendly and the selection of antiques were incredible. I was so busy that I wasn't able to take many photos but I did take some before the day began of the gorgeous engraved pumpkins on display. The little Nest acorn pumpkin above is one (of many) I brought home.

Aren't they adorable piled high on the antique cart? Carol Smithback of Old Willow Farm is the creative gardener who brought them. There were so many to choose from that it was impossible to pick just one. And on the side of the barn there were dozens of bay wreaths. Perfect to hang inside your kitchen during the cold, rainy months ahead.

For now, I'm grateful to be home. I need to take some time to nest and fluff for Autumn. Not to mention all the laundry, grocery shopping and cleaning that needs to take place. But I'm looking forward to it. I think I'll put on an apron, some cheerful music, light a couple candles and be a homemaker for a while. Sounds divine. Hope to have some photos of my progress soon. Wishing each of you a beautiful Autumn day! 

The Bins

Have any of you heard of the Goodwill Bins? I never had. Absolutely no clue such a thing even existed. On my recent trip to Washington state I had the opportunity to see what it was about. From the outside it looks like a regular Goodwill store but inside is a different story. There are gigantic plastic bins on rolling carts all lined up like little soldiers. And swarms of people standing in lines waiting for the cart to stop before they take a dive in them to see what they can find.

Apparently they are filled with things the Goodwill stores don't want. Interesting, yes? For me, I couldn't handle the pressure of bumping elbows and jumping in line so I wandered over to another corner of the store and looked in the "book bins". No one was swarming this area at the time. I was able to find this big pile of vintage sheet music. The calligraphy was beautiful. L-O-V-E me some great script. I carried my stash to the register where the lady rang me up a sweet deal. Can't say that I'll go again, I'm just not that agressive. But I am completely thrilled with what I brought home. So....maybe, just maybe with some elbow pads and a bodyguard I might just take the plunge again.